FOUR SUMMER INSTITUTES HELD IN HOLY LANDS: In-person programs a huge success!

Despite all odds, in August, JPB's Israeli affiliate, JPB Leadership Development (JPBLD) successfully operated four leadership and peacebuilding programs for youth and adults near Tel Aviv and in East Jerusalem. The three summer youth institutes engaged teens between ages 14-18, while our EXCEL Institute for adults focused on training Israeli teachers working in local high schools.

The youth institutes were held at the Eastern Mediterranean International School (EMIS) in Ramat HaSharon. Each week-long program contained a broad array of leadership and peacebuilding workshops, dialogue sessions, recreational activities, and interfaith learning. To read more about these exciting programs, check out this summer blog post!

In Jerusalem, we partnered with Retorika for Multiculturalism, St. George’s College Jerusalem, Oranim Academic College of Education, and the US Embassy in Israel to offer our third ever EXCEL Institute. Accredited by the Israeli Ministry of Education, the program brought together 21 Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Druze educators for a powerful week of trainings around peacebuilding and English language pedagogy. Teachers discovered meaningful connections in dialogue sessions, over meals, and during recreational activities around the city. The success of the program is already inspiring them to integrate the lessons they learned into their classrooms this fall! Check out this interview with one EXCEL participant on the nightly news.

EXCEL Institute participants outside of St. George's Cathedral

With the summer now over, our youth participants will reconnect at our Alumni Reunions later this month, and our EXCEL educators are completing follow-up assignments as part of ensuring their success in the program. We give thanks for our many partners, staff, the youth and their parents who made this past summer a huge success!